Restorative dentistry in Doral, Miami
Front tooth implant in Miami, matched to the teeth beside it
A front tooth implant replaces a missing or failing front tooth with a titanium post in the bone and a custom crown on top. It is the part of the smile everyone sees, so the plan starts with your gum line, the shape of your other teeth and the exact shade, and then the bone.
- Implant and crown from
- $1,900
- Bone healing
- 3 to 9 months
- Neighbor teeth
- Left untouched
What a front tooth implant involves
The parts are the same as any implant: a post in the jawbone, a connector called an abutment and a crown. What changes at the front is how little room there is for error. The bone over the roots of the upper front teeth is often very thin, and the gum around the crown has to sit at the same height as the gum on the tooth next to it. A tooth that is the right color but has a gum line two millimeters higher still looks wrong when you smile.
Timing is one of the main decisions. An implant can go in the same day a tooth is removed, or a few weeks to months later once the socket has healed. A 2014 systematic review of front tooth implants found that placing the implant at the same visit as the extraction gave less predictable results, with the gum shrinking back by more than a millimeter in about a quarter of cases. The same-day approach works best when the bone wall at the front is intact and the gum is thick. We check both before we recommend it.
Front tooth implants at Miami Perfect Smile are treated by Dr. Helen Carmenate, whose focus is smile design, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Each crown is made for one patient and shaded to match the teeth around it.
- Crown. Shaped and shaded to match the front teeth beside it.
- Abutment. The connector between the implant and the crown, hidden under the gum line.
- Implant. A titanium post placed along the angle of the original root.
- Thin bone on the lip side. Often very thin at the front. Whether it is intact helps decide if the implant can go in the day the tooth comes out.
- Gum. It has to sit at the same height as the gum on the neighboring teeth for the tooth to look natural.
Who a front tooth implant is for
Adults with healthy gums who are missing, or about to lose, a single front tooth.
- A tooth lost to an accident. Falls, sports and bites on something hard often knock out or split an upper front tooth.
- A front tooth that cannot be saved. A cracked root, deep decay or a failed root canal can mean extraction. We plan the implant before the tooth comes out.
- A tooth that never grew in. Some people are born without one or both upper lateral incisors and have worn a retainer tooth or a bonded bridge for years.
- An old bridge you want to replace. If a bridge has failed or the teeth holding it are weak, an implant lets those teeth stand on their own again.
- People who want to keep the neighboring teeth intact. A standard bridge needs the teeth on both sides filed down for crowns. An implant does not.
When we suggest something else. We do not place implants in teenagers whose jaws are still growing; the usual minimum age is 18. Active gum disease, diabetes that is not under control and smoking all need attention first. If the bone or gum at the front is too thin, a graft may come first, and in some cases a bonded bridge or a removable partial denture is the better choice for now.
How it works, step by step
You will not go without a front tooth while the implant heals.
-
Exam and smile plan
We examine the tooth or the gap, take X-rays and photographs, and look at your gum line and the shade of the teeth around it. You get a written plan with the timing and the price.
First visit
-
Extraction and graft, if needed
If the tooth is still there, it is removed as gently as possible to protect the thin bone at the front. A graft may be added to rebuild bone or gum.
Only in some cases
-
Placing the implant
Under local anesthesia, the post is placed in the bone and the gum is closed. You leave with a temporary tooth, either a removable one or, when the implant is stable enough, a temporary crown.
One appointment
-
Healing and shaping the gum
The bone bonds to the implant over three to nine months. If the temporary is a crown fixed to the implant, it can also be used to shape the gum around the future crown.
3 to 9 months
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The final crown
The abutment goes on and the custom crown is fitted, checked against the neighboring teeth and adjusted to your bite.
Final visit
What a front tooth implant costs
Our starting price for a front tooth implant with its crown is $1,900. The total depends on whether the tooth has to be extracted, whether you need a bone or gum graft, the type of temporary tooth you wear while you heal and the crown material. We give you the full figure after the exam, before anything is done.
Because a front tooth implant replaces a real tooth rather than changing how healthy teeth look, some dental plans pay part of it. Coverage varies widely, so we check your plan with you.
- Front tooth implant with crown
- from $1,900
Financing is available through CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit. The exact plan and price are confirmed at your consultation.
- Financing available
- Insurance accepted for covered care
Implant, bridge or removable tooth?
| Implant | Standard bridge | Removable partial | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighboring teeth | Not touched | Filed down for crowns | Clasps or a plate rest on them |
| Surgery | Yes, minor | No | No |
| Time to the final tooth | Months | A few weeks | A few weeks |
| Bone where the tooth was | The implant helps preserve it | Can shrink over time | Can shrink over time |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss like a natural tooth | Floss threaded under the bridge | Taken out to clean |
Recovery and aftercare
- The first week. Mild soreness and some swelling are normal and usually ease within about a week. Over-the-counter pain relievers are enough for most people.
- Do not bite with it yet. While the implant heals, avoid biting into apples, sandwiches or anything firm with your front teeth. Cut food into small pieces and chew with your back teeth.
- Leave the temporary alone. Do not push on the temporary tooth with your tongue or take a removable one out more than we tell you to.
- No smoking. Tobacco and vaping slow healing and raise the risk of gum disease around the implant.
- Daily cleaning and checkups. Brush and floss around the crown like any other tooth, and come in for regular checkups so we can catch gum inflammation early.
- Protect it. Wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and a night guard if you grind your teeth.
What patients ask before deciding
How much is a front tooth implant?
At Miami Perfect Smile a front tooth implant with its crown starts at $1,900. An extraction, a bone or gum graft and the type of temporary tooth can add to that, so we confirm the total after your exam. Financing is available through CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit.
Is a front tooth implant painful?
The area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you feel pressure during the procedure rather than pain. Afterward most people have some soreness and swelling for a few days, which usually settles within a week with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Will I have a gap while it heals?
No. You wear a temporary tooth while the bone heals. It can be a small removable tooth or, if the implant is stable enough on the day, a temporary crown fixed to it. Either way, it is there for looks and should not be used to bite.
Can I get a front tooth implant in one day?
Sometimes the implant and a temporary crown go in on the same day the tooth comes out. That works best when the bone at the front is intact and the gum is thick. The permanent crown still waits several months for the bone to heal around the post.
Will a front tooth implant look natural?
A well-planned one is hard to tell from the teeth beside it. The crown is matched in shape and shade, and the gum is shaped during healing. Where the bone or gum is thin, a graft may be needed for the best result, and we explain that before you start.
Can I whiten an implant crown?
No. Whitening gel works on natural enamel, not on porcelain, so the crown keeps the shade it was made in. If you want whiter teeth, whiten them first and we match the crown to the new shade.
How long does a front tooth implant last?
The post can last for decades with good care; long-term studies find that about 93 to 96 percent of implants are still in place after ten years. The crown on top may need replacing after about 15 years.
Can I bite an apple with an implant?
Once the implant has healed and the final crown is on, yes, you can eat normally. Biting into something very hard with any front tooth, natural or not, can chip it, so cutting apples and crusty bread is still a good habit.
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